Sheffield Wednesday have condemned racist abuse suffered by chairman Dejphon Chansiri in the wake of the club’s Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final defeat at Peterborough last Friday.

Wednesday have already issued an immediate ban against the person who racially abused manager Darren Moore following the 4-0 loss at London Road and have insisted they will do the same again following this incident.

They said in a statement: “Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore was subject to a disgraceful racist comment on a social media platform this week following the Owls’ game at Peterborough on Friday evening.

“It has since come to light that a similar appalling racist post was made in the direction of our chairman Dejphon Chansiri.

“This incident is also in the hands of the authorities and the individual responsible will be subject to the same consequences.

“We are fully conversant with the emotions stirred by football and the immediacy of social media platforms.

“However, when comments cross the line of moral decency and indeed the law, this will not be tolerated.

“We stand together with our chairman, manager and society as one in condemning all forms of discrimination and will continue taking every step possible to stamp out this wholly unacceptable behaviour.”

The Owls, whose 96 points in the regular League One campaign was a club record but only good enough to see them finish third, will try to salvage their promotion hopes in Thursday’s second leg at Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday have issued an immediate ban against the person who directed racist abuse at manager Darren Moore on social media following Friday’s game against Peterborough.

The individual behind the offending account has been barred from attending club fixtures and events as Wednesday said they stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Moore and would offer him their full support.

The club are working with police over the message that was sent in the aftermath of their League One play-off semi-final first-leg defeat.

A statement said: “Sheffield Wednesday are appalled by a repulsive racist message directed at Darren Moore posted on a social media platform following our game against Peterborough United on Friday evening.

“We distance ourselves absolutely from this kind of abhorrent behaviour and have taken the appropriate steps by issuing an immediate ban on the individual in question from all SWFC fixtures and events.

“Sheffield Wednesday stand shoulder to shoulder with Darren, the football family and wider society in condemning all forms of discrimination.

“The club will offer our full support to Darren and we are working together with the authorities in ensuring this individual faces the full force of the law as a result of such a cowardly and despicable act.”

Moore was appointed Wednesday boss in March 2021 when they were in the Championship but could not prevent their relegation at the end of that season.

His team face Posh in the second leg at Hillsborough on Thursday looking to overturn a 4-0 deficit as they bid to end their two-year stay in the third tier.

No further action will be taken against Oxford defender Ciaron Brown by the Football Association in relation to allegations of spot-fixing, his club have said.

The FA launched an investigation in January into suspicious betting patterns around Oxford’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.

The betting patterns centred around a yellow card issued to Brown for a foul on Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah in the 59th minute of the match.

However, Oxford released a statement saying Brown would not face any action over the matter, with the investigation now closed.

Brown told the U’s website: “It’s good to finally get it over and done with. I knew nothing about the allegations at all and had absolutely no involvement.

“To have that hanging over my head for two thirds of the season was hard to deal with but I fully understand that the FA needed to check all the evidence.

“I want to thank my family, and the club who have been totally supportive throughout this process. Now I just want to concentrate on my football and enjoy a successful new season.”

Bolton are in a strong position to book a second Wembley trip in six weeks, boss Ian Evatt insisted after his side’s play-off draw with Barnsley.

The EFL Trophy winners failed to secure a first-leg advantage in their semi-final and were grateful as leading marksman Dion Charles scrambled in an equaliser after Nicky Cadden’s 64th-minute opener had put Barnsley in the driving seat ahead of next Friday’s return at Oakwell.

Trotters keeper James Trafford, in his final home appearance before returning to Manchester City, produced some vital saves either side of the goals.

Evatt described his team’s first-half display as “shy and timid” but said defiantly: “I know we can play a lot better. I feel really positive.

“Maybe last night’s result (Peterborough’s 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday) had an impact because it looked like we were playing in our shells.

“There was a huge amount of nerves and that result effected everyone’s mindset because no one wanted to lose it in the first leg.

“Once the goal went in the shackles came off. All of a sudden we sparked into life and had more possession and more control.

“Barnsley will feel they are in a strong position. But I feel we are in a strong position.

“There will be more onus on them being the home team, more pressure and we are a dangerous team when the spaces become bigger.”

On Trafford’s performance, Evatt said: “James made some wonderful saves. He is the best goalie in the league for a reason and that’s what he does.

“He is a brilliant young keeper and I believe he will go to the very top.”

Opposite number Harry Isted had less to keep him occupied. And when he tried to cut out Randell Williams’ cross, he could only push the ball out for Charles to score.

Trafford continued to thwart Barnsley with a double save from Bobby Thomas while Barnsley skipper Mads Andersen ensured there were no further goals with a fine block from Wanderers substitute Dan N’Lundulu.

“We did enough to win the game,” insisted Barnsley boss Michael Duff. “It was a disciplined performance against a very good team.

“Their goal came from nothing and we had some good chances and the keeper made some good saves.

“It is a sign of our performance that there is a tinge of disappointment that we didn’t do enough to shade it.

“Even after (their goal) we still had enough chances to go on and win it: lots of corners, lots of shots.

“But next Friday will be a tight and similar sort of affair. I said to the players, ‘don’t think the job is done now’. There will be no back-slapping.

“Last time they came to our place they beat us 3-0. There are 90 minutes of the season left so we still have to give it everything again.”

Dion Charles denied Barnsley a vital first-leg advantage with a second-half equaliser to earn Bolton a 1-1 draw in their Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final.

The Northern Ireland international scored his 21st league goal just four minutes after Nicky Cadden threatened to put Barnsley in the driving seat for Friday’s return at Oakwell.

The eventual winners will meet Sheffield Wednesday or Peterborough at Wembley for the right to join Plymouth and Ipswich in the Championship next season.

Unlike Posh’s 4-0 hammering of the Owls, this second semi-final – played in front of a crowd of 23,450 – was far cagier.

Barnsley finished one place and five points in front of their hosts after the regular season. But Wanderers enjoyed a more profitable end to the campaign and showed their resilience after falling behind.

The return of captain Mads Andersen after a two-game injury absence boosted Barnsley in this fourth and penultimate meeting between the teams this season.

The corresponding home league fixture ended in a sterile 0-0 draw, Barnsley won the FA Cup duel while Wanderers romped to a 3-0 win at Oakwell on January 2.

Barnsley hope to return to the Championship after just one season away while a Jack Grealish goal for Aston Villa contributed to Wanderers dropping from the second tier in April 2019.

Charles fired high and wide from Elias Kachunga’s cross as Wanderers looked to replicate the whirlwind start from their Papa John’s Trophy triumph against Plymouth.

Liam Kitching blocked defender George Johnston’s effort but it was Barnsley who looked most likely to break the first-half stalemate.

Luca Connell, a former Bolton academy midfielder, drilled a lot shot from distance that James Trafford – in his farewell home appearance – did not hold first time.

Adam Phillips thumped another effort over the crossbar while Manchester City loanee Trafford blocked Slobodan Tedic’s flick.

Devante Cole turned Ricardo Santos but could not direct his attempt on target while Trafford was called into action to save from Cadden.

And it was Cadden who put the Tykes in front with his sixth goal of the campaign after 63 minutes. Wanderers failed to clear a Phillips corner and Cadden fired home from the edge of the area after Cole played the ball back into his path.

Bolton boss Ian Evatt immediately introduced substitutes Dan N’Lundulu and Kieran Lee for Kachunga and Josh Sheehan and within four minutes the home side were level.

Harry Isted had not had a shot to save but when called upon to deal with Randell Williams’ left-wing centre, he could only push the ball towards Charles for the equaliser.

Barnsley shrugged off the disappointment and Bobby Thomas twice went close to restoring the visitors’ advantage.

Andersen then showed his qualities with a vital block from N’Lundulu but neither team could find a crucial second goal.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson stressed “there will be no complacency” after his side’s thumping 4-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final.

Posh, who snuck into the top six on the final day, put the shell-shocked Owls to the sword at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Cameron Dawson’s howler from Jack Taylor’s strike before Joe Ward’s shot took a cruel deflection saw the hosts go 2-0 up before half-time.

Kwame Poku and Jonson Clarke-Harris, with his 29th goal of the season, finished the job and left Wednesday with an absolute mountain to climb in the return fixture next week.

“It’s 4-0, but we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” insisted Ferguson, who is bidding for a fifth promotion with the club.

“There will be no complacency from us going to Hillsborough.

“We want to go to Hillsborough and try to win the game, that’s the attitude that we’ve got.

“I felt we couldn’t go there after losing the game tonight, it’s been a great night for us.

“I have to say that Will Norris has made a big save for us (from Michael Smith) at 0-0. That was a really big save. That would have changed the course of the day.

“It was a really, really top performance. Overall it was a very pleasing performance, but it’s only halfway.

“I’ve been in this game long enough to know anything can happen, but it was a really good night for us. I have to say that.

“It’s not about me, the players have got to take all the credit after a performance like that. They have to get the credit. It was a very good performance against a good team.

“The fans were outstanding. I’ve had it before here in the play-offs, it was amazing again.”

The Owls’ bid for a Championship return has already had chapters of heartache.

Last season they lost in the play-offs to eventually promoted Sunderland.

And this term their 96 points was the highest total ever in the Football League without earning promotion after they finished third.

Punch-drunk Owls’ boss Darren Moore reflected: “It’s a bad night for us tonight.

“It’s a huge task, we know that. They’ve got the four-goal advantage, but all we can do is reflect on the game and get ready for next week. It is a big uphill task.

“I can totally understand the disappointment and frustration because there was real hope. There was vigour among the boys and our supporters.

“It’s a disappointing night, but as manager you’ve got to try and keep your composure and get the lads ready for next week.”

On Dawson’s mistake for the first goal, Moore added: “There’s a lot of negativity when mistakes happen in games. Nine times out of 10 Cameron deals with that situation.

“On a night like that when your emotions are a little bit more flared it’s probably a lapse in concentration.

“It’s normally a routine save and the other one’s a deflected shot and then we’re two down.”

Peterborough have one foot in the Sky Bet League One play-off final at Wembley after they eased past Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Goals from Jack Taylor, Joe Ward, Kwame Poku and Jonson Clarke-Harris sent the home fans into hysteria ahead of Thursday’s return leg at Hillsborough.

Posh – who saw Darren Ferguson return for a fourth stint as manager at the start of the year – were delirious after sealing the last play-off spot as they leapfrogged Derby on the final day and they are in dreamland once again after blowing the visitors away in the first leg.

And it could be another fairytale finish to the season for Ferguson who has steered the club to the Championship on three separate occasions as well as a League Two promotion.

Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday were gutted to only be in the play-offs after securing a club record 96-point haul.

They now hold the unwanted record of the highest points total ever to miss out on automatic promotion in the Football League.

A dismal run of just four points from a possible 24 heading towards the run-in cost them dear.

And the Owls, who missed out on a return to the Championship after play-off heartache to Sunderland last season, were the architects of their own downfall once again.

Moore’s charges have an absolute mountain to climb to keep their dreams of a second-tier return alive.

The visitors had the first real chance of the encounter as Michael Smith got in behind but Will Norris came out on top with a good save.

It was a mistake from Owls goalkeeper Cameron Dawson which opened the floodgates for free-flowing Posh.

There was an initial poor clearance which fell to Taylor as he fired home a shot which inexplicably crept under Dawson in the 20th minute.

And things went from bad to worse as a wicked deflection doubled the hosts’ lead 16 minutes later.

It was a good strike from Ward, but was ultimately flying wide before it took a big deflection which allowed the ball to dip up and over Dawson off the underside of the crossbar.

Wednesday had a couple of big chances to cut the deficit before the break.

They both fell to Josh Windass, who was first thwarted by a good Norris save before he headed over the target.

Moore’s side missed another glaring opportunity when Michael Ihiekwe nodded a teasing Barry Bannan cross wide.

And they were instantly made to pay as unmarked Poku headed home – his sixth goal of the season – as Posh flew into a 3-0 lead.

The Owls were unlucky not to get a penalty when Marvin Johnson’s strike hit Ronnie Edwards’ elbow, but the referee waved away huge appeals from the on-rushing Wednesday players before Ihiekwe’s effort from the resultant corner was cleared off the line.

And with 15 minutes to go, the former Rotherham man saw a second strike hacked off the line as Wednesday’s night followed a similar tone.

Clarke-Harris hit his 29th goal of the campaign as he easily nodded home at the back post after Taylor chipped the ball up at the back post after he was denied by Dawson.

It could have been even more had it not been for a late Dawson save.

Andy Crosby has been appointed Port Vale manager on a permanent basis following a short spell in interim charge.

Crosby took over for the last four games of the League One season after Darrell Clarke was sacked following a winless seven-game run.

The 50-year-old joined Vale in 2021 as Clarke’s assistant and also had a stint as acting manager from February to May 2022 as the club gained promotion from League Two.

Director of football David Flitcroft said: “We are delighted to announce Andy Crosby as our first-team manager.

“He has shown and proved in his time as assistant manager, acting manager, and in support of the manager that he has the qualities required to lead the football plan as we move forward in our next chapter of progression on and off the pitch.

“He is highly regarded and respected by the staff and players and we feel he is ready for this opportunity.”

Vale won one and lost three of Crosby’s games in charge as they finished four points above the relegation zone.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has called on his side to carry their winning momentum into Friday’s League One play-off semi-final first leg at Peterborough.

The Owls, who finished third in the table, ended the regular season with four consecutive wins.

“We have pushed for 46 games to get here and now we want continue that momentum,” said Moore.

“We come into the play-offs with good momentum, and good form and that is what you want.

“But even with that good form, we want to continue to get better, and that is the consistent message at this football club.”

Sunday’s 2-0 win at Barnsley enabled Peterborough to leapfrog Derby into sixth place with a helping hand from Wednesday, who beat the Rams 1-0.

Moore, however, will hope that is as far as his side’s charity extends, having seen them finish 19 points clear of their semi-final opponents and just two adrift of second-placed Ipswich.

Wednesday, who lost out to Sunderland at the same stage last season, will be favourites to progress.

“This is what we sign up for,” added Moore. “When you come to Sheffield Wednesday, you have to embrace the expectancy and we have certainly done that.

“We know the passion the city holds for this football club. I live in the city, I feel it, I know it, I enjoy it, and I understand it.

“The players certainly want to be remembered, and the only way to do that is with success.”

Peterborough’s last-gasp surge into the play-offs represents a triumph for persistence.

Manager Darren Ferguson, who resigned in February last year with the club slipping towards the Championship exit, returned for a fourth spell in charge in January following successor Grant McCann’s departure.

Ferguson said: “This is not a time to take a step back. We are three wins away from a great achievement.

“We were back to work straight after celebrating the Barnsley win and we will be ready for a very big challenge.”

Accrington defender Mitch Clark has been charged with alleged breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules.

In a statement, the FA said the allegations relate to 312 bets placed on matches between February 8 2022 and March 10 2023.

Clark has until May 17 to respond to the charges.

The 24-year-old Welshman made 49 appearances in all competitions for Stanley this season as they were relegated from Sky Bet League One.

MK Dons have sacked head coach Mark Jackson following their relegation to League Two.

Jackson’s assistant Robbie Stockdale and technical insights analyst Aaron Dagger are also leaving the club.

An MK Dons statement read: “The club would like to thank Mark, Robbie and Aaron for their efforts during their time at Stadium MK.

“Everyone at MK Dons wishes them every success in the future.”

Former Leeds coach Jackson, 45, took charge in December with MK Dons 22nd in League One and three points from safety.

Jackson won only six of his 25 games in charge and MK Dons were relegated after Monday’s goalless draw at Burton.

A dramatic final weekend of the Football League campaign set up a series of intriguing play-off ties as the remaining promotion contenders gear up for one last push.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the combatants in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two as the semi-finals loom.

The Championship

Sunderland v Luton

Sunderland went into their final-day trip to Preston knowing even victory might not be enough to edge them into the play-offs, but a 3-0 victory, coupled with Millwall’s remarkable capitulation at home to Blackburn, saw them snatch sixth place to keep alive their unlikely hopes of back-to-back promotions.

Under Tony Mowbray, who replaced Alex Neil at the helm in August, they are unbeaten in nine and finished the regular season – during which star striker Ross Stewart was largely absent and they were without a recognised central defender – strongly to give themselves a chance to exorcise the ghost of successive relegations from the Premier League to League One.

Luton, who have not played in the top flight since 1992, were already assured of third place and their play-off berth before Monday’s 0-0 home draw with Hull, which extended their unbeaten run to 14 games.

Indeed, Rob Edwards’ men, who boast dyed-in-the-wool Wearsider Mick Harford among their backroom staff, have lost only once in the league since January 14 and climbed from 10th place into the top three after the former Watford manager’s appointment as Nathan Jones’ replacement in November.

Coventry v Middlesbrough

When Mark Robins accepted the hotseat at Coventry in March 2017, the club was hurtling into League Two and faced an uncertain future amid deepening financial problems.

He has since guided them back up the pyramid to within touching distance of the Premier League, where they last played during the 200-01 season, after a run of 17 games which included just a single defeat and ended with Monday’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Former Manchester United and England star Michael Carrick, who was on the books at Boro as a youngster, inherited a team which had won just four of its first 16 league games and was languishing inside the relegation zone when he replaced Chris Wilder in October.

Carrick has overseen a concerted drive up the table, fuelled in large part by revitalised 28-goal striker Chuba Akpom, which at one point saw the club flirt with automatic promotion.

League One

Peterborough v Sheffield Wednesday

Peterborough’s last-gasp surge into the play-offs represents a triumph for persistence. Manager Darren Ferguson, who resigned in February last year with the club slipping inexorably towards the Championship exit, returned for a fourth spell in charge in January following successor Grant McCann’s departure.

Sunday’s 2-0 win at Barnsley enabled Posh to leapfrog Derby into sixth place with a helping hand from Wednesday, who beat the Rams 1-0.

Owls boss Darren Moore, however, will hope that is as far as his side’s charity extends having seen them finish 19 points clear of their semi-final opponents and just two adrift of second-placed Ipswich.

They lost out to Sunderland at the same stage last season and will head into their latest two-legged appointment on the back of a four-game winning run.

Bolton v Barnsley

Bolton’s quest for a return to the second tier for the first time since 2019 caps a season of real positivity after a difficult spell in the club’s history.

Promoted from the fourth tier two seasons ago, Ian Evatt’s men have lost only one of their last 10 games in all competitions, a sequence of results which includes a 4-0 Papa Johns Trophy final victory over League One champions Plymouth.

Relegated from the Championship at the end of last season – having won just six of their 46 games a year after reaching the play-offs – Barnsley are looking to make an immediate return under Michael Duff.

They rather limped over the line, taking just a point from their final three fixtures with runners-up Ipswich and fast-finishing Peterborough both winning at Oakwell.

League Two

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Salford v Stockport

Salford, famously backed by Manchester United’s Class of ’92, survived a final-day scare as they clung on to the final play-off spot despite a 1-0 home defeat by Gillingham.

Led by former United Academy coach Neil Wood, the Ammies have made it to the end-of-season festivities for the first time since their emergence from the National League in 2019.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor is targeted a third-successive promotion have steered County back into the Football League last season having done the same with Hartlepool 12 months earlier.

They missed out on automatic promotion to Northampton on Monday after a 1-1 home draw with already-relegated Pool, but are unbeaten in 13.

Bradford v Carlisle

There are few bigger managerial names in the lower leagues than that of Bradford boss Mark Hughes, but the Bantams are going to have to do it the hard way if they are to make it back to the third tier.

They won only one of their last five regular season fixtures – although drew 1-1 with champions Orient to seal their play-off place – and failed to score in either game against the Cumbrians.

Carlisle’s 1-1 draw with Sutton ensured their continued participation, although their form too is patchy with only two wins in their last 11 games.

Paul Simpson, the man who took the club from the Conference to League One in successive seasons during his first spell as boss, is back in charge having successfully fought his own battle with kidney cancer and hopes are high for a significant upturn.

Dean Holden says Charlton must mount a League One promotion push next season after they signed off this term with a 2-2 draw at Cheltenham.

Alfie May’s late strike during an entertaining season finale denied Holden a winning end and he has demanded a big improvement in 2023/24.

“I don’t know how we threw that game,” Holden said. “It’s a game we should’ve won comfortably, but we conceded a cheap goal at the end.

“Having said that, we had 10 academy players on the pitch today which is encouraging.

“We have to be pushing at the top end of the table next season given the size of this club and we have to be fitter.

“We had gilt-edged chances right throughout the game and so how we didn’t win it I don’t know.

“We finished 10th in the league and so it’s been a decent second half of the season, but collectively we’ve not been good enough.

“The players have to go away in the summer and use it wisely and come back fitter than they’ve ever been.”

The Addicks led through Scott Fraser’s first-half strike, but Aidan Keena levelled for the Robins early in the second period.

Substitute Jack Payne struck with seven minutes left to restore Charlton’s advantage, but May’s 20th League One goal of the season sealed a point for the Robins.

Cheltenham boss Wade Elliott was happy after overseeing the club’s second highest-ever placing of 16th in the EFL.

“It was a good game, with two teams wanting to win it and I thought we were really good,” he said.

“I thought we deserved to win it. It’s really pleasing to see the connection between the players and fans at the end.

“The fans can see they have a really genuine, honest group. It’s been good, so make the most of it.

“We’ll enjoy the summer, take stock and we know it’ll be tough against next season. We can’t get blase about being at this level.”

Morecambe manager Derek Adams felt his side did all they could to stay up after a 3-2 defeat at Exeter saw the Shrimps condemned to relegation from League One.

After a dire first half, Jay Stansfield put Exeter in front, only for Cole Stockton to equalise and give Morecambe hope of staying up.

But Stansfield dashed those hopes with two more to complete his hat-trick before Stockton’s consolation strike, deep into 14 minutes of stoppage time.

“We needed to try and win today and it was 0-0 at half-time,” Adams said. “We knew Cambridge were 2-0 up so it meant we definitely needed to win the game.

“We tried our best but they scored a goal early in the second half. We pulled one back but then they got a second. We found it difficult after that because we were chasing the game and there were big holes all over the pitch.

“We took nearly 900 supporters with us today which is fantastic. Not so long ago, we didn’t have 900 home supporters, it is fantastic they have come with us today.

“We had tremendous backing throughout the season. But it is not about losing today, it is over the season. The players have given their best.

“It was cagey in the first half, neither side really threatened the goalkeeper. If we scored a wee bit earlier, we might have been able to pull it back as there was a lot of injury time.

“The players gave everything and worked hard throughout the campaign and we just came up short.”

As for Exeter, the day belonged to Stansfield in was the final game of his loan spell from Fulham.

The 20-year-old celebrated his hat-trick goal by running towards and pointing to the stand that bears his late father’s name in what was a truly emotional moment.

City boss Gary Caldwell said: “Jay is brilliant and I am running out of words to describe him.

“He’s an absolute pleasure to work with and he has had difficult periods in the season where he doesn’t score, but he’s a fantastic team player – he works hard for the team.

“He does all the right things in terms of his preparation and how he trains and that (hat-trick) was well deserved for all of his hard work this season and I am delighted that he had that moment with the supporters inside the stadium.”

On his team’s performance, Caldwell added: “It is always good to win games of football. I thought we were the better team throughout.

“In the first half, I thought the possession was too slow, but we came out with a better intensity, we played much quicker and we scored three brilliant goals.

“I was disappointed with the two goals we conceded and that is an area we definitely have to improve next season but, overall, after the season we have had and the run we’ve been on, I am delighted to finish with a win.”

Manchester United loanee Shola Shoretire was praised by Bolton manager Ian Evatt after his first senior goal ensured the Trotters warmed up for the Sky Bet League One play-offs on a high.

The 19-year-old opened his senior goalscoring account to put Bolton on course for a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium and ensured they will face Barnsley in their play-off semi-final in confident mood.

Evatt said: “I think that Shola is a hugely talented player and while I’m delighted that he’s now got off the mark with us, I’m certain that there’s lots more to come.

“He’s had a bit of a stop-start of things since he came to Bolton but scoring his first senior goal for us will be a great boost for him.

“This is his first loan away from United and his first sustained taste of senior football and as a young player you’re always going to have highs and lows.

“He started off great with us after arriving on loan in January and then he’s had a dip but the key thing is that he has kept his head down and worked hard and he can have an impact in the play-offs.”

Shoretire put Bolton in command with a tap-in midway through the first half and although Luca Hoole equalised soon after, Bolton’s superiority told after the break.

After Shoretire limped off with cramp, Southampton loanee Daniel Nlundulu restored Bolton’s advantage with a 20-yard drive before Aaron Morley struck with a delightful side-footed effort from outside the box.

Rovers substitute John Marquis slotted home from close range late on to set up a tense finale that saw Scott Sinclair’s stoppage-time strike hit the crossbar but Bolton held firm, much to Evatt’s delight.

“The squad is in a good place, the players have lots of confidence and I have a massive amount of belief in them,” Evatt added.

“We have to prove what we can do in the play-offs but now I feel we’re coming to the boil at just the right time.

“We have the hunger and determination to attack the play-offs and we’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes, so we’ll be ready.

“But now isn’t the time for pats on the back, it’s about getting our heads down and working hard because we can do it in the play-offs if we give it our best shot.”

After taking part in a post-match lap of honour with his players and staff, Rovers boss Joey Barton was quick to look forward to next season.

“I’ll be aiming to build a squad that is capable of challenging for a place in the Championship because that’s what the fans deserve,” Barton said.

“The support we’ve received from the Gasheads has been sensational but special mention must go to my players who have worked ever so hard all season.

“I know the enormous sacrifices that they have made this season to help establish ourselves in League One.”